Rail heating apparatus



1936- v R. E. FRICKEY ET AL 2,062,569

- RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Porn; A. fie/clear fle/a/v 5. mzfi/vaaexv ATTORNEYS.

v 219 meme mums 1936- R. E. FRICKEY ET AL 2,062,569

RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

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RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 219. ELECTRXC HEATING R. E. FRICKEY ET AL RAIL HEAT ING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 8; 1932 WAlgW 1936- v R. E. FRlCKEY ET AL 2,062,569

RAIL HEAT ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 jg, 7,, g

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIL HEATING APPARATUS Royal E. Frickey, San Francisco, and Arion S. Kalenborn, Redwood City, Calif., assignors to Welding Service, Inc., San Francisco, C'alif., a corporation of California Application November 8, 1932, Serial No. 641,714

12 Claims. (01. 219-44) This invention relates generally to apparatus for heating railroad rails, particularly where the heating is for the purpose of hardening the rail by subsequent chilling.

It has been found that the life of railroad joints can be materially increased by hardening the rail ends, so that they are better able to withstand the severe pounding to which they are subjected. As set forth in copending application Ser. No. 612,066, filed May 18, 1932, this hardening can be effected by heating followed by subsequent chilling with oil. Uniformity of results depends upon many factors, one of which is proper heating of the rail portion to be subsequently chilled. Improper heating may result in different degrees of hardness in successive joints treated or in an uneven hardness pattern for each particular rail end. Likewise if such practice for the hardening of rail ends is to be practical and of commercial utility, all of the equipment required, including the equipment for heating the rail ends, must be capable of successful field operation upon rails which have been laid. Therefore in general the heating apparatus should be portable; it should heat rapidly without injurious effect upon the rail to assure the desired hardness pattern; and it should not require delicate adjustment and control beyond the skill of laborers who are available for such work.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rail heating machine or apparatus which will meet the requirements outlined above, and which can be utilized as a part of equipment for the hardening of rail ends by heating followed by subsequent chilling.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a rail heating apparatus which will operate upon only a limited area of the upper surface of the rail, and which will effectively utilize an electric are as a source of heat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable rail heating apparatus which can be readily applied to successive joints, and which will continue automatically to complete heating of the rail when started in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide for immediate interruption of the electric arc, in the event the mechanism for continuously traversing the electrode becomes broken or impaired in operation.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus or machine incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in cross section.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, looking towards the forward end of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional detail, taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail in plan, illustrating a part of the mechanism which is utilized to effect automatic opening of the welding circuit, in the event the means for traversing the electrode fails.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a special form of electric switch incorporated in Fig. 6, with the cover of the switch box removed.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram for the electrical parts of my machine.

The apparatus as illustrated in the drawings consists of a frame H], which is portable, that is which can be shifted from one place to another along a railroad track. The frame in this instance can consist of a pair of transverse axles ll, connected by the end frame members I2. The wheels l3 are journaled upon the ends of shafts l l and may operate upon the rails of the track. Carried by the frame l there is a suitable support or hanger l4, which serves in turn to support certain other parts of the apparatus.

In order to permit vertical adjustment of hanger l4 with respect to the frame In, means are provided which can be constructed as follows:A pair of rotatable shafts l6 and I! are carried by the end frame members l2. Sprockets l8 fixed to these shafts, are connected by the chain l9, so that the two shafts are caused to rotate in unison. Fixed to each of the shafts l6 and I1, are a pair of sprockets 2|, to which the upper ends of chains 22 are secured. The lower ends of chains 22 are secured to the hanger l4. Thus upon rotation of one of the shafts [6 or IT, as by means of lever 24, hanger M can be lulu.

raised or lowered to any desired level, and can be locked in such position by locking lever 24.

Extending from one end of hanger Hi, we provide structural members 25, which overlies the rail 25 to be heated. Secured between structural members 25 there is a box 27, which as will be presently explained, serves to encompass the area of the rail to be heated.

A suitable detailed construction for box 2'5, can be best explained by reference to Figs. 4 and 5. It will be noted that in this instance the end walls 28, and likewise the bottom of the box, is cut away to form a slot to receive the upper portion of the rail ball. To accommodate the box to rails of varying sizes, it is shown provided with a guide strip 29, one edge of which is adapted to engage the outer face of the rail ball. This strip is adjustably secured to the box proper, as by means of screws 2|. In order to assist in guiding box 2'? in proper engagement with the rail, structural members 26 are also shown provided with depending fingers 32, which are adapted to engage the opposite side faces of the rail ball, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. These fingers can be slightly resilient, and their lower ends can be bent outwardly as illustrated to facilitate engagement.

In order to concentrate the heat of an electric are upon the surface of the rail encompassed by box 2?, we provide an electric arc electrode 36, which may be of carbon, or like suitable material. The mounting for arc 36 incorporates a plate 35, which serves as a closure for box 21 during normal operation of the apparatus. For releasably gripping and retaining the electrode 32 with respect to the cover plate 55, we provide a suitable electrode holder which can consist of a pair of U-shaped metal members 3? and 58. The parallel and overlapping side branches of members 3'? and 38, are apertured to receive the electrode. These members are also secured to the forward ends of a pair of resilient arms 39, which tend to spring outwardly, so as to cause members 37 and 58 to securely grip the electrode. Parallel extensions il secured to the forward ends of resilient arms 39, can be manually urged together to release the electrode. The rear ends of spring arms 59 are connected together and to a common insulator 32.

Cover plate is preferably mounted in such a manner that it is free to move in any direction in a horizontal plane. To this end we have illustrated a detailed construction as follows:- Spaced from the forward or outer side of box 2?, there is a roller or shaft 53, which extends substantially horizontal and substantially longitudinally of the rail. The ends of rollers 43 are provided with pivotal connections i l and 56, to the outer ends of structural members 26. Arranged to cooperate with roller 63, I provide a pair of spaced transverse rollers ll. The ends of rollers l? have pivotal connections 58 and 49, with arms 55, which in turn are mounted upon the forward or outer edge of closure plate 35. The engagement between rollers 43 and 41 serves to sustain the weight of closure plate 35 and its associated parts, whereby this plate can be moved a limited amount in any direction in a general horizontal plane, with a minimum of friction. To serve as a connection between closure plate 35 and spring arms 36, we provide an additional arm 52, the rear or inner end of which is con nected to the rear or inner end of arms 39, and the outer end of which is secured to plate 35 (Fig. 4). A suitable insulation can be provided at this point to prevent grounding of electrode 36, with respect to plate 35. Electrical insulation, in the form of a bushing 54, can also be interposed between electrode 36 and the cover plate 35.

To provide means for continuously traversing the electrode 36 in directions both lateral and longitudinal with respect to the rail, to effect distribution of the are over the area to be heated, we provide means which can be best understood by reference to Fig. 2. Carried by the support Hi, there is a gear box 56, upon which an electric motor 5? is mounted. Motor 51 is provided with a vertical drive shaft 58, which is coupled to an operating shaft of the gear box 56. Two shafts 59 and SI extend from the gear box 56, and a speed reducing gearing connects these shafts with the motor shaft 58, thus serving to drive the same at different rates. Fixed to shaft 59, there is a cam 62, and engaging within the groove 63 formed in this cam, there is a roller 64. Roller 64 is carried by a casting 66 or equivalent member, which in turn is bored to receive one end of a rod 51. By means of a set screw 68, casting 66 can be adjustably fixed to the rod61. In order to guide this casting 66 for reciprocation in one direction only with respect to the gear box 56, a guide rod 69 is provided, which extends thru another bore provided in casting 66. This guide rod is shown carried by hub H, formed as a part of the gear box and surrounding shaft 59.

With respect to the main frame H! of the machine, rod 61 is reciprocated not only in a direc-- tion laterally of the rail, by cam 62, but also simultaneously in a direction longitudinal of the rail. As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, gear box 56 is mounted upon a carriage 13, the ends of which slidably engage a pair of spaced parallel rods 14. Depending from the carriage 13 there is a bracket 16, which carries a sleeve 11 to slidably engage rod 61. Fixed to the shaft 6!, there is a cam 18, the groove 19 of which is engaged by a roller 8 I. This roller is carried by a bracket 82, which in turn is mounted upon one of the structural members 26 (Fig. 1).

To afford an operating connection between rod El and the electrode 36, the outer end of rod 61 is provided with a hinged connection 83 with insulator 42. Such a hinged connection (which is formed on a horizontal pivotal axis substantially longitudinal with respect to the rail 21) transmits the desired traversing movements to the electrode 36, and at the same time permits cover plate 35, together with electrode 36, to be swung upwardly to an out of the way position, clear of the box 21.

It is evident from the above that upon operation of motor 51, the carriage I3, and all parts directly connected to the same, including the gear box 56, the electric motor, bracket 16, and rod 6?, are reciprocated back and forth upon rods M, in a direction longitudinal of the rail. At the same time cam 62, operating thru casting 66, reciprocates rod 6'! in a direction lateral to the rail. Rod 61 reciprocates many times laterally of the rail, for a complete cycle of longitudinal reciprocation. Preferably the revolutions per minute of cam 67, bear an uneven or odd ratio with respect to the revolutions per minute of cam surfaces 78. Therefore the resultant traversing movement of electrode 36, is in directions both lateral and longitudinal of the rail, and the pattern traced by the are between this electrode and the surface of the rail, does not retrace itself, although the arc is well distributed over the entire area being heated. As an example of a drive which will give good results, the lateral or cross motion cam 62 may be driven at a rate of approximately 144 revolutions per minute, and the cam I8 at a speed of approximately 8.43 revolutions per minute.

Before summarizing the general mode of operation of our machine, certain additional features should be described. During a heating operation it is desirable to have the supporting structure I I assume a definite position with respect to the two rails of the track, independently of frame I0, and that this position be adjustable with respect to the horizontal. To this end we provide a pair of depending rods 86, which are adjustably secured to the supporting structure I4 by the releasable gripping means 81. The lower ends of rods 86 carry feet 88 which are adapted to engage the upper surface of that rail which is on the other side of the track from the rail being heated. When the supporting structure I4 is lowered to an operating position, feet 88 engage the rail and support one end of the structure I4, while the other end of this structure is supported by engagement of box 28 with the rail to be heated.

We have found that it is possible to provide means for striking an arc between the lower end of electrode 36 and the rail without contacting the electrode with the rail. Thus as shown particularly in Fig. 4, we have shown a block 9| made of suitable material such as carbon. The upper edge of this block is secured to a shaft 92, which in turn is journaled within the end walls of box 21. Block 9| can be caused to swing towards the center of the box, by a suitable means such as the biased plunger 93 of an electrical solenoid 04. When block 9| is swung inwardly by the bias on solenoid 94, to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, electrode 36 in its traversin movement will contact the lower edge of block 9|, thereby striking an arc, and this are after being struck will serve to automatically establish an are between the electrode and the surface of the rail.

A further feature is provision for automatically connecting one side of the electrical welding circuit to the rail to be heated, as the box 21 is dropped into position upon the rail. Thus as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, we provide a pair of contactors 96, which are arranged adjacent the ends of rods 91, which in turn are slidably received by brackets 98. Compression springs 99 serve to normally urge contactors 96 into good electrical conductive contact with the surface of the rail. Contactors 96 can be connected by suitable bus conductors with one side of the heating circuit, while the other side of the heating circuit is connected by a suitable flexible conductor to the electrode 36.

To review the general mode of operation of our machine, when the machine is being moved to a rail joint or other portion of the rail to be hardened, support structure I I is elevated so that the box 21 will clear the rail. If it is now desired to heat the upper surfaces of rail ends at a joint, the machine is brought into proper position with the center line of the box directly above the center of the joint, and then structure I4 is lowered to seat the box upon the joint as shown in Fig. 3, and to permit feet 88 to rest upon that rail of the track opposite the joint being heated. The electric motor 51 is started in operation and the heating circuit established. Solenoid 84 is energized, by a separate electrical circuit, or automatically responsive to energizing the heating circuit, to bring the carbon block 9| in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. During traversing movement of electrode 36, its lower end is contacted with carbon block 9|, and the electrical are thus struck is caused to be established between the electrode and the upper surface of the rail. Continued traversing movement of the electrode moves the are continuously in a predetermined pattern upon the area of the rail to be heated. In this connection note that in applying the apparatus to a rail joint, the two rail ends at the joint are heated simultaneously. In other words the pattern extends over both rail ends. With an arc of known and substantially fixed current consumption, the amount of heat imparted to the rails depends upon the length of time the arc is permitted to operate, or upon the current consumption as indicated by an ampere hour meter. Therefore it is a simple matter to determine the length of operation required, to secure the desired degree of heating for a subsequent chilling operation. After the arc is operated for a proper length of time, further operation is discontinued, box 21 is raised free of the rail, and the machine moved out of the way to permit a chilling operation. If desired, either during or before a heating operation, suitable chemical can be introduced thru the tube IOI provided in cover plate 35, to promote ionization for maintenance of a more stable arc.

While the machine as described above is an operative device, it is desirable to provide some means for immediately discontinuing the arc in the event the electrode ceases to traverse due to some abnormal condition, as for example failure of the motor 56 or breakage of a part of the mechanical drive between this motor and the electrode. Otherwise the rail might be melted by continuing the arc to a localized path on the rail. Suitable means for this purpose has been illustrated in connection with Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Thus a bar I03 is provided, one end of which has a pivotal connection I04 to the inner ends of arms 39. Bar I03 is slidably extended thru a rocker I06, which is provided with a pivotal connection I01 to some stationary part of the machine, as for example one of the structure members 26. It is evident that reciprocating movements of the electrode 36 laterally of the rail, are accompanied by angular movements of bar I03, to elfect oscillatory movement of rocker I06. Bar I03 is also provided with a cam surface I08 engaged by a cam roller I09. Roller I09 is carried by a second rocker I I I, which is secured by pivotal connection II2 to the structural member 26. Suitable means such as a spring II3, serves to normally urge rocker II I in one direction, to retain roller I09 in contact with cam surface I08. Electrical switches H5 and H6, of special construction, are mounted upon rockers I06 and III.

When electrode 36 is being reciprocated laterally of the rail, it is evident that switch I I5 will be oscillated as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6, and that switch II6 will remain substantially stationary. On the other hand if the electrode is being reciprocated longitudinally of the rail, with no lateral reciprocation, it is evident that switch II6 will be oscillated back and forth, but switch II5 will remain substantially stationary. Likewise when the electrode 36 is being traversed as in normal operation of the machine, that is both laterally and longitudinally of the rail, then both switches H and H6 will be oscillated at a predetermined rate.

Switches H5 and H6 are preferably so constructed that they retain their contacts closed, only when being oscillated by normal operation of the machine. A mercury switch having such characteristics is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. In this instance the switch consists of a body H6, formed of insulating material, and provided with a sealed cover H1. The interior of body H6 is formed to provide a reservoir H8 for mercury, and a groove or trough H9 separated from reservoir H8 by a baffle 12!. Trough H9 is in re stricted communication with reservoir H8, by means of an opening l22 thru bafile l2l. Electrical contacts I23 are positioned at the ends of the trough H8. When the switch which has just been described is oscillated in the direction indicated by the arrows, at a proper rate, the body of mercury repeatedly surges over bafile l2l into trough H9, so that this trough H9 always contains sufficient mercury to close contacts i233. However when such oscillation is terminated, or reduced to a substantial degree, the mercury within trough l L) has an opportunity to flow back to reservoir H8, to interrupt the circuit between contacts I23.

A circuit diagram for the entire apparatus including the switches H5 and H6 described with respect to Figs. 6, '7 and 8, is illustrated in Fig. 9. In this case one side of the heating circuit l, is connected to the electrode 36, and the other side of the welding circuit is grounded to the rail thru the contactors 96. Solenoid 95 is connected in series with the rail and the heating circuit, so that when the arc is struck the solenoid is energized. An ampere hour meter 2 is also included in the heating circuit, so that an operator, by determining the ampere hour consumption during a heating operation, can determine the amount of heat which has been imparted to the rail. Preferably this ampere hour meter is arranged to close contacts 3 after a predetermined ampere hour consumption, and the closing of these cont-acts can sound an alarm 4. The circuit for motor 5! is connected across a separate set of power supply lines 5 and can include a suitable starter 6. A safety circuit is also provided which is connected in series with the switches H5 and H6. This safety circuit, which can be connected to power supply lines 5, is also serially connected with the winding of a circuit breaker l, and also with the contacts of a solenoid switch 8. The winding of solenoid switch 8 is connected serially with the circuit for the motor 51.

It is evident that if the current to motor 5? fails, solenoid switch 8 is immediately opened, to cause the opening of circuit breaker I. Likewise if either of the switches H5 or H5 is not continuously operated at a predetermined rate, the safety circuit is opened to cause opening of breaker 1. Obviously with such an arrangement motor 51 must be started in operation to traverse the electrode before closing the heating circuit.

We claim:

1. In a portable rail joint heating apparatus, a frame adapted to be supported by the rails of a track adjacent the joint to be heated, an electrode from which an electric arc can be estab lished to one rail of the track upon which the frame is supported, a holder for the electrode, means carried by the frame for supporting and traversing the holder longitudinally across the joint and simultaneously laterally thereto, whereby the heat of the arc is distributed over a substantially rectangular area of the upper rail surface upon both sides of the joint center, and an enclosure arranged to encompass said area, part of the enclosing being movable together with the holder and another part thereof being carried by the frame and adapted to be seated upon said rail.

2. In a portable rail heating apparatus, a portable frame adapted to be supported by a railroad track adjacent a portion of the rail to be heated, a hanger, means serving to support the hanger upon the frame for vertical adjusting movements relative thereto, an arc electrode, a holder for the electrode, and drive means carried by the hanger and connected to the holder, said drive means serving to traverse the holder and the electrode in directions both laterally and longitudinally of the rail.

3. In a portable rail heating apparatus, a portable frame adapted to be supported by a railroad track adjacent a portion of the rail to be heated, a hanger, means serving to support the hanger upon the frame for vertical adjusting movements relative thereto and. also for adjusting movements laterally of the track, an arc electrode, a holder for the electrode, drive means carried by the hanger and connected to the holder, said drive means serving to traverse the holder and the electrode over an upper area of the rail tobe heated, and means serving to form a direct positive engagement between the hanger and the track for a lowered position of the hanger.

4. In a portable rail heating apparatus, a portable frame adapted to be supported by a railroad track adjacent a portion of the rail to be heated, a hanger, means serving to support the hanger upon the frame for vertical adjusting movements relative thereto, an arc electrode, a holder for the electrode, a carriage supported by the hanger and reciprocable relative thereto and longitudinally of the track, a reciprocable member supported by the carriage and extending laterally of the rail, the holder being attached to said member, and drive means for reciprocating said member relative to the carriage and for simultaneously reciprocating the carriage relative to the hanger.

5. In a portable rail heating apparatus, a portable frame adapted to be supported by a railroad track adjacent a portion of the rail to be heated, a hanger, means serving to support the hanger upon the frame for vertical adjusting movements relative thereto, an arc electrode, a holder for the electrode, a carriage supported by the hanger and reciprocable relative thereto and longitudinally of the track, a reciprocable member supported by the carriage and extending laterally of the rail, the holder being attached to said member, drive means for recipocating said member relative to the carriage and for simultaneously reciprocating the carriage relative to the hanger, whereby the electrode can be traversed over a limited upper area of the rail, an enclosure adapted to encompass said area, and means for attaching said enclosure to said hanger.

6. In rail heating apparatus, a portable frame adapted to rest upon a railroad trackway, enclosing means carried by said frame and adapted to be seated upon one rail of the trackway upon which the frame is resting, said enclosing means serving to encompass an area of said rail to be heated, an electrode extending into said enclosing means and from which an electric arc can be established to the rail surface, means carried by the frame for continually traversing said electrode in directions both laterally and longitudinally of the rail to distribute the are over the area to be heated, a part of said. enclosing means being movable together with the electrode.

7. In rail heating apparatus, .a portable frame adapted to rest upon a railroad trackway, enclosing means movably connected to the frame and adapted to be seated upon one rail of the trackway upon which the frame is resting, whereby the enclosing means encompasses an area to be heated, an electrode extending into said enclosing means and from which an electric arc can be established to said rail, means carried by said frame to eifect continuous traversing movements of said electrode in directions both laterally and longitudinally with respect to the rail over the area to be heated, and means for elevating the enclosing means with respect to the rail, a part of the enclosing means being movable With the electrode.

8. In rail heating apparatus, an open-bottomed box adapted to be seated upon a rail to be heated, a closure plate slidably disposed above said box, an electrode extending thru said closure plate and adapted to move together with the same, means for reciprocating said cover plate and electrode laterally of the rail, and means for simultaneously reciprocating said cover plate and said electrode longitudinally of the rail.

9. In rail heating apparatus, a portable frame, a support, means for securing said support to said frame for vertical adjustment, a motor carried by said support, a reciprocable member carried by said support, drive mechanism interconnecting said motor with said reciprocable member, whereby said member is simultaneously reciprocated in directions lateral and longitudinal of the rail, means carried by said support for engaging a rail, an arm hingedly secured to said member, and an electrode from which an arc can eecliw be established to the rail, said electrode being carried by said arm.

10. In rail heating apparatus, an electrode from which an arc can be established to a rail to be heated, means for repeatedly traversing the arc in directions both lateral and longitudinal with respect tothe rail, a welding circuit having electrical connection to the rail and to the electrode, and means for deenergizing said electrical circuit in the event of failure of said traversing means.

11. In apparatus for heating tread portions of railroad rails preparatory to hardening the same by a chilling operation, an arc electrode, an electrode holder serving to retain the electrode for operation on the tread of the rail, motion applying mechanism including a cyclically movable element serving to reciprocate the holder laterally of the rail, addition-a1 motion applying mechanism including a second cyclically movable element for reciprocating the holder longitudinally of the rail, a driving motor, and means operated by said motor for cyclically driving said elements at an uneven speed ratio, whereby the arc is traversed over predetermined and successively overlapping patterns.

12. In apparatus for heat treating railroad rails, a heating means, a holder serving to retain the heating means for operation on the rail, motion applying mechanism including a cyclically movable element serving to reciprocate the holder laterally of the rail, additional motion applying mechanism including a second cyclically movable element for reciprocating the holder longitudinally of the rail, a driving motor and means operated by said motor for cyclically driving said elements at an uneven speed ratio, whereby the heating means is traversed over predetermined and successively overlapping patterns.

ROYAL E. FRICKEY. ARION S. KALENBORN. 

